Yes, you’re reading that right, those pink slices on top of the salad are pink pearl apples! They remind me of awatermelon radish, not much different than a typical green apple, but a gorgeous pink on the inside. I have to admit I did not realize that these apples would be pink, so it was a pleasant surprise when I cut into one. They are very tart, like a granny smith, and pair great with cheese. I picked this up at Greenstar in Ithaca, but any tart apple variety will work in this salad.
The lettuce is tossed with a simple vinaigrette and is a nice backdrop for the apples, blue cheese, and walnuts.
Apple, Walnut, & Blue Cheese Salad
1 head lettuce, washed and torn into bite size pieces
1 tart apple, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Dressing
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
few grinds of black pepper
Combine dressing ingredients. Place lettuce in a large bowl, toss with the dressing. Place dressed leaves on a large platter or individual plates and arrange apples, walnuts, and blue cheese over the top. If making in advance keep ingredients separate until serving.
